Kentucky hunters warned: CWD zone now covers 9 counties

FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) — Kentucky’s chronic wasting disease (CWD) surveillance measures expanded to nine counties on Friday following the detection of CWD in a deer harvested in Pulaski County in September.

The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission approved the expansion on Dec. 5, adding Casey, Laurel, Lincoln, McCreary, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Russell, Wayne, and Whitley counties to the state’s existing surveillance zone.

The CWD Surveillance Zone​ previously encompassed Ballard, Breckinridge, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hardin, Henderson, Hickman, Marshall, McCracken, Meade, Union, and Webster counties.

Chronic Wasting Disease, a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer, elk, and other members of the deer family, was first detected in December 2023 in Ballard County.

Hunters needed to be aware of specific requirements within the Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Zone.​​

While deer hunting was still allowed, hunters could not bait deer with items like corn, grain, or mineral blocks. Deer killed inside the zone could not be taken outside it.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that no CWD infections had been reported in people, and it remained only a theoretical risk to humans.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife advised hunters to maintain routine safety precautions when handling, processing, and consuming game meat. Hunters should not harvest or handle any animals that appear sick or unhealthy.

​​Hunters can report sick or dead deer to the department by contacting the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Information Center at (800) 858-1549 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (EST) on weekdays, excluding holidays, or by submitting observations online.

More information about CWD, the surveillance zone, and the agency’s response plan can be found online.

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Krisna Dwi Wardhana

Lahir di Padang pada tahun 1991, saya telah tinggal di berbagai wilayah di Indonesia sejak TK hingga kuliah, termasuk Aceh, Palembang, dan Bogor. Saya meraih gelar Sarjana Sains dari FMIPA Universitas Indonesia. Saat ini, saya bekerja sebagai Pendidik di sebuah sekolah swasta di Bogor, Tutor privat sambil tetap fokus mengembangkan Bisakimia.

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